Jammu, August 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday criticised Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and National Conference leader Surinder Choudhary over his remarks supporting the restoration of Article 370 and special status in the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said the National Conference would continue to seek statehood, Article 370 and special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will get statehood, we will get Article 370, and we will get special status,” he said.
Choudhary also argued that the BJP had a greater responsibility to restore special status and statehood, referring to assurances he said had been made in Parliament regarding jobs and land belonging to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the BJP would have to decide whether it wanted to “betray” the people of Jammu and Kashmir or deliver justice, and claimed that voters would respond in the 2029 elections. He also said people in Jammu were now fed up with the BJP’s statements.
J&K Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Sunil Sharma strongly objected to the Deputy Chief Minister’s remarks. Speaking to IANS, Sharma alleged that Choudhary’s statement was an attempt to demonstrate his loyalty to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and the party.
Sharma also linked the remarks to reports of a possible reshuffle of ministers over corruption allegations and performance, saying Choudhary may have made the statement to demonstrate his allegiance to the party leadership.
Calling the remarks serious, Sharma said Article 370 had been associated by the BJP with terrorism and separatism in the region and alleged that many soldiers had sacrificed their lives in combating those threats.
“Today all of them, along with the voters, have been made to feel ashamed due to the Deputy CM’s statement,” Sharma said.
He questioned the National Conference over whether it wanted to see further incidents of terrorism and separatism in Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP MP Sat Sharma also criticised the National Conference, alleging that the party had historically pursued a divisive political approach.
“This is the same political party that imposed Article 370 on us. Back then, there was UPA at the Centre and the National Conference here (in J&K),” he said.
Sat Sharma asserted that Article 370 had been removed and would not be restored. He said the National Conference should accept the decision and move forward, adding that every citizen of India had the right to live wherever they chose.
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